What If "Having It All" Isn't the Point?

Do you feel like you're drowning under the pressure to have it all? That relentless pursuit of society's definition of success – the thriving career, picture-perfect family, passionate marriage, all while maintaining a flawless appearance – can leave us feeling like we're failing at everything.

Sometimes what we feel to be our biggest failure – that moment when people discover we’re not perfect – can become the turning point that changes everything. 

We were never meant to carry such heavy burdens, especially alone. The world tells us to do it all, Jesus offers a different invitation: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." 

It goes against everything culture tells us, but: What if having it all was never really the goal? What if true peace comes not from balancing every spinning plate but from laying our burdens at down at Jesus’ feet?

Take five minutes today to just breathe, to let go, to stop proving your worth through titles and busyness. 

Remember that the God who created the stars, moon, and everything beautiful sees you! Not for what you're doing, but for who you are – His beloved child. 

Share this message with someone who needs this reminder that they're not failing; they're simply human, and that's enough because Jesus is.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Oh, we're so glad you've joined us for the
five-minute encouraging podcastover the next five minutes.
Just encouraging you, inspiringyou to lift your day.
By the way, at the end of thefive minutes, if you need more
encouragement, you can alwayslisten to Virginia's Home for
Encouragement, wper.
If you're outside the listeningarea, download the app WPERorg

(00:22):
or tell your smart speaker toplay WPER radio station.
My name's Eric.
This is my friend Heather.

Speaker 2 (00:28):
So today, this is for everyone who feels like they're
drowning under the pressure ofhaving it all, and you know what
I'm talking about.
It's society's version ofsuccess.
You know a thriving career, apicture-perfect family, a
passionate marriage, and somehowyou need to look flawless doing
it all.

Speaker 1 (00:45):
Well, if you've ever looked in the mirror and thought
I'm failing at everything,we're glad you're here for a
little bit of encouragement.

Speaker 2 (00:52):
Yeah.
So I'm going to tell you abouta woman I know that you might
relate with.
Her name is Rachel, and she wasone of those women from the
outside had it all climbing thecorporate ladder and a VP in
corner office by the time shewas 35.
She had a handsome andsuccessful husband who adored
her, two beautiful kids, agorgeous house, an awesome car.
You know like the dream ofsuccess.

(01:13):
But what no one saw were allthe cracks beneath the surface
that she hid so well.
You know Rachel was runningfrom meeting to meeting and
answering emails with one handand microwaving chicken nuggets
at the other.
You know all those date nightswell.
They turned into like catch upsessions with a man who suddenly
felt more like a roommate, andthen time with God, yeah,

(01:36):
practically non-existent.
So Rachel and I can say I feelthis too she would lay awake at
night thinking about all theways she had failed, even though
she was trying so hard.
So one night, after missinganother one of her daughter's
soccer games, rachel just broke.
I mean, she sat there on thekitchen floor, tears falling
down her face.

(01:56):
She was bawling, barely evenable to speak the words.
God, I cannot do this anymore.
And so in that moment she feltlike that was the moment that
everybody was going to find outthat she was a failure.
But in reality, that was themoment that everything shifted
Because right there on thekitchen floor, with the crumbs

(02:17):
of last week's dinner and thismorning's breakfast or to-do
list just crumpled up on thefloor, her world seemed like it
was falling apart.
You know, and in all thisexhaustion and emptiness, but
she felt a gentle nudge from theLord.
Now, it was not condemnationand it was not shame, it was a
whisper that said Rachel, mysweet girl, you were never meant

(02:42):
to carry all of this.

Speaker 1 (02:46):
None of us are.
You know, the world tells us weshould do it all.
Oh yeah, absolutely.
That's the message you get.
But Jesus says come to me, allyou who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest.
So what if having it all wasnever really the goal?
What if peace, true soul, deeppeace, doesn't come from
balancing every spinning plateand striving to be so successful
at every little thing?

(03:06):
What if the peace comes fromlaying all of our burdens, all
of our stresses, all of ourproblems at his feet?
You know, the truth is we canchase the world's version of
success, but without Jesus it'salways going to leave us
exhausted and empty, becauseonly Jesus can fill the places
success was never meant to touch.

Speaker 2 (03:25):
Eric.
That's good, that was good.
So maybe today you just needpermission to breathe, to let go
, to stop trying to prove yourworth through titles you hold or
how busy you are, or being theperfect parent to the world
while you're trying to do it all.
So just stop, stop striving andjust be.

(03:47):
And the God who created thestars and the moon and puppies.
He created you and he sees youright now, not for all the stuff
you're doing and trying to makeit look like you're handling it
, but for who you are hisbeloved and treasured child.

Speaker 1 (04:05):
Psalm 4610 says be still and know that I am God and
maybe, well, let that be yourinvitation today to just be
still.
Stop striving, Stop chasing.
Simply let God be God in yourlife.
Let him carry the weight youwere never meant to carry.

Speaker 2 (04:20):
So, before we wrap up , can I just pray over you, oh
Jesus, for every single personlistening to this who is
exhausted from trying to do itall?
Remind them today that they areloved, not for what they've
accomplished, but because theyare your child.
Show them that your grace isenough and that real peace comes

(04:43):
when we stop striving and westart resting in you.
Thank you, father.
In your name we pray amen.
You're not failing friend.
You are human and you're enoughbecause Jesus is.

Speaker 1 (04:57):
Thank you for spending a few moments with us
today.
If this spoke to your heart,would you share it with a friend
who might need that reminder?
Thank you for listening to yourencouraging five-minute podcast
again.
If you need furtherencouragement, go back and
listen again, or listen toVirginia's Home for
Encouragement WPER.
You can download the app.

Speaker 2 (05:14):
Or you can listen at WPERorg or even ask your smart
speaker to play WPER Radio.